Visible index embodying a plurality of swingable panels



2,498,808 ITY Feb. 28, 1950 MB. HALL VISIBLE INDEX EMBQDYING A PLURAL OF SWINGABLE PANELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1947 Feb. 28, 1950 M B HALL 2,498,808

vIsBLE INDEX 'EMB'ODYING A PLURALITY 0F SWINGABLE PANELS Filed Dec. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZZ I; 25

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- MN l -?6 I III I h Patented Feb. 28, 1950 VISIBLE INDEX EMBODYING A PLURALITY OF SWINGABLE PANELS Marchand B. Hall, Chicago, Illl, assignor to Acme Visible Records, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a'corporation of Delaware Application December 15, 1947, Serial No. 791,908

9 Claims. (Cl. 40-102) This invention relates to improvements in visible indexes, and is more particularly concerned with the provision of 'a relatively small compact desk size unit embodying a plurality of swingable panels adapted to bear Written or printed matter, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc.

It yis an object of the present invention to provide a visible index embodying a pair of mounting plates projecting upwardly in spaced parallel relation from a suitable base and having their upper edges recessed at equally spaced intervals to receive the ends of resilient hanger wires, said mounting plates being formed with abutment flanges at the entrance to said recesses to hold their respective hanger wires against outward displacement.

It is a furtherv object of this invention to provide the mounting plates with recesses and abutment flanges which permit mounting or removal of resilient hanger Wires from their respective recesses by bending the hanger wires into bowshape.

It is a further object of this invention to mount a plurality of panels upon each hanger wire by means of clips.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and .arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View showing a visible index embodying features of this invention, the hanger wires and associated panels being removed from the index.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View illustrating that portion of the index shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the index and the manner of mounting same upon a supporting platform.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of mounting a plurality of panels upon a common hinge wire.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 1 1 of Fig. 6. i

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of this invention, the visible index is shown as comprising a base 6 formed with side walls 1 1 and a back wall 8. A pair of mounting plates 9 9 project upwardly in spaced paral- 2 lel relation from the base 6 and adjacent the inner sides of the side walls 1 1. The base 6 and mounting plates 9 9 are preferably formed from sheet metal, the mounting plates 9 9 being secured to the base by means of` spot-welding or other fastening means.

AAs viewed in side elevation, the upper edges of the mounting plates 9 9 incline upwardly toward the back wall 8 and are formed with a plurality of equally spaced recesses II which are rounded at their inner ends to denne seat portions I2 to snugly receive the ends of resilient hanger wires I3. The upper edges of the mounting plates 9 9 are formed with a -plurality of abutment flanges I4 defining one side of the entrance to the recesses Il. The abutment flanges I4 are bent outwardly at an angle to the plane of the respective mounting plates and serve to prevent movement of a straight hanger wire into or outof the recesses II when the hanger wire is disposed in a plane normal to the mounting plates. The hanger wires I3 are inserted into or removed from the recesses II by manually bending the hanger wires into bow-shape, as illustrated in Fig. 4 in the drawings. After the hanger wire is mounted in the seat portion I2 of its recesses II, it assumes its normal straight shape and is held against outward displacement by means of the abutment shoulders I4. It will be noted that the side walls 1 1 serve to prevent axial displacement of the hanger wires relative to the mounting plates 9 9.

Bearing apertures are provided in the upper rear corners of the mounting plates 9 9 to receive a mounting pin I6 which serves as a journal for a clip I1 spot-welded to a cover I8. The cover I8 is preferably formed of metal and has its side edges I9 I9 bent inwardly to define a pair of opposing recesses to receive the side edges of a carld 2l. The card 2l is adapted to bear any suitable printed or written matter and may be replaced, when desired, by a new card. The cover I8 is supported in its open upright position by means of a flange 22 provided at the upper end of the back wall 8. l

A pair of metal plates 23-23 are spot-welded or otherwise secured to the base 6 and have their outer edges bent outwardly and thence inwardly at 24 24 to provide a pair of opposing recesses to receive and engage the side edges of a sheet of cardboard or the like. y

A cross-strip 25 is welded at its ends to the upper surfaces of the metalplates 23-23 and defines, with the upper surface of the base 6, an elongated recess 21 to receive a tongue 28 provided on a mounting plate 29. A metal plate 3l is secured to the back end of the mounting plate 29 and is formed with a back wall 32 and side walls 33-33 to snugly receive and engage the adjacent portions of the back wall 8 and side walls 9--9 of the base 6. The supporting plate 29 is adaptedtdbesecured to theupper surface oi a desk, table or the like by means of screws. The base 6 is removed from the mounting plate 29 by merely lifting same upwardly and thence rearwardly.

Three or more panels, indicated' ati A,v B and C, in Fig. 6 of the drawings, are adapted to be pivotally connected to each hanger wire I3 byv means of metal clips generally indicated atl 36.; the metal clips 36 are formed from strip material bent intermediate their ends to provide leg portions 31 and 38 and a connecting loop portion 39 to receive the hanger wire I3. The outer end of the leg portion 31 is bent inwardly at 4I to project through the thickness of its respective panel. By referring to Fig. 6, it will be noted that each panel is provided with two clips for engagement with. a hanger wire.

One of themost important features of the present invention resides in the provision. of a simpley and inexpensivemeans for mounting resilient hanger wires for use in a visible index. It will be noted that the hanger wires, and their respective panels, are readilyv positioned within their respective recesses II` by merely bending the resilient hanger wire into bow-shape; after which, the end portions of the hanger wire are held against outward displacement by means of their respective abutment anges I4. It will` also be noted that the several1 panels may readily be removed from the visible index by bending the hanger wire in-to bow-shape; after which, the panels may be removed fromv their hanger wire to facilitate applying. written or printed data thereto. By providing opposing recesses along the sidewalls of: the cover I8, by means of the flanges I9I9, a suitable card bearing printed or written matter may be demounta-bly positioned upon the cover I8. Another demountable. card, not shown, bearingsuitable. written or printed matter may be positioned in the opposing recesses dened by the intu-rned flanges 24F24. of the plates 23-23.

While this invention has been shown in but one form, it is obvious to thoseskilled inthey art that it is not so limited but is. susceptible4 of various `changes and modifications, without departing from the spiritV and scope of theclai'med invention.

I claim as my invention;

l. In a visible index adapted to receive a hanger wire, a base, a pair of mounting plates projecting` upwardly in spaced. parallel relation from saidbase,` sai-d mounting plates being formed with. recesses in their upper edges, the. inner end of each recess having walls deiining. aseat p.or.-. tion to receive the end of a straight hanger wire disposed in a planey normal to. the mounting plates, an abutment flange provided atv the en.- trance to each recess. to engage and. holdthe end of av straight hanger wire. against displacement from its respective seat portion, said abutment ange projecting outwardly at an angle from the plane of its respective mounting plate.

2. In a visible index adapted to receive a hanger wire, a base, a pair of mounting plates projecting upwardly in spaced parallel relation from said base, said mounting plates being formed with recesses in their upperV edges, the inner end ofY each recess having walls defining a seat portion to receive the end of a straight hanger wire disposed in a plane normal to the mounting plates, an abutment ange provided at the entrance to each recess to engage and hold the end of a straight hanger wire against displacement from its respective seat portion, said abutment ange projecting outwardly atl an angle fromthe plane of. its respective mounting plate, the free edge of said abutment flange dening one wall of the entrance to said recess.

3. In a visible index adapted to receive a hanger wire, a base, a pair of mounting plates projecting upwardly in spaced parallel relation from said base, said mounting plates being formed with recessesin their upper edges, the inner end of each recess having walls dening a seat portion to receive the end of a straight hanger wire disposed lin a plane normal to the mounting plates, an abutment flange provided at the entrance to each recess to engage and hold the end of a straight hanger wire against displacement from its respective seatV portion, said abutment flange projecting, outwardly at an angle fromv the plane of its respective mounting plate, said base being formed with side walls projecting' upwardly adjacent the outer sides of said mounting plates to prevent axial displacement of a hanger wire mounted in said recesses.` K

4. In a visible indexadapted to receive a hanger wire, a base, a pair of mounting plates projecting upwardly in spaced parallel relation from said base, said mounting plates being formed with recesses in their upper edges, the inner end of each recess having walls. defining a seat portion to receive the end of` a straight hanger wire disposed.- ina plane normal to the mounting plates, an abutment ange provided at. theY entrance tol each recessto engage and hold, the. end. of a straight. hanger wire against. displacement from its, respective seat. portion,4 said abutment flange projecting outwardly at an angle from the plane of its respective mounting. plate, the free edge of said abutment ange defining one wall of the entrance to. said recess, side. walls. provided along the.. side edges of said base and adjacentthe outer sides of said mounting plates to prevent axial displacement. ofy a hanger from said. recesses..

5.. In a visible index adapted to receive a hanger Wire, a base,l a pair of mounting plates projecting upwardly in spaced parallel relation from said base, said mounting plates being formed with recesses. intheir upper edges, the inner end of each recess having wallsdening a seat p0rtion.to receive the end of a straight hanger wire disposed in a plane normal to the mounting plates, an abutment ange provided at the entrance to each recess to engage and hold the end of a straightv hanger. wire. against displacement from its respective seat portion, said abutment flange projecting outwardly at an angle from the plane at its respective mounting plate,` the free edge of said abutment flange defining one wall of the entr-ance to said recess, side walls provided along the side edges ofv said base and adjacent the outer sides of said mountingr plates to prevent axial displacement of a hanger from said recesses, said mounting, plates being formed with bearing apertures, and' a cover journaled in said bearing apertures.

6. In a visible index adapted to receive a hanger wire, a base, a pair of mounting plates projecting upwardly in spaced parallel relation from said base, said mounting plates being formed with recesses in their upper edges, the inner end of each recess having walls'dening a seat portion to receive the'end'v of =a straight hanger wire disposed in a plane normal to the mounting plates, an abutment ange provided at the entrance to each recess to engage and hold the end of a straight hanger wire against displacement from its respective seat portion, said vabutment flange projecting outwardly at an angle from the plane of its respective mounting plate, the free edge of said abutment flange defining one wall of the entrance to said recess, side walls provided along the side edges of said base and adjacent the outer sides of said mounting plates to prevent axial displacement of a hanger from said recesses, said mounting plates being formed with bearing apertures, a cover journaled in said bearing apertures, and a back wall projecting upwardly from said base and disposed to support said cover in its open position. y

7. In a visible index, a base, side walls extending upwardly in spaced parallel relation lfrom said base, a pair of mounting plates disposed in spaced parallel relation upon said base and adjacent the inner sides of said side walls, said mounting plates being formed with recesses in their upper edges, the inner ends of each recess 'having walls defining a seat portion, a resilient hanger wire mounted in the seat portions formed in said mounting plates, an abutment flange'provided at the entrance to each recess to hold said hanger wire against upward displacement from its respective seat portion, said abutment flanges projecting outwardly at an angle from the plane of its respective mounting plate.

8. In a visible index, a base, side walls extending upwardly in spaced parallel relation from said base, a pair of mounting plates disposed in spaced parallel relation upon said base and adjacent the inner sides of said side walls, said mounting plates being formed `with recesses in their upper edges, the inner ends of each recess having walls dening a seat portion, a resilient hanger Wire mounted in the seat portions formed in said mounting plates, an abutment flange provided at the entrance to each recess to hold said hanger wire against upward displacement from its respective seat portion, said abutment flanges projecting outwardly at an angle from the plane of its respective mounting plate, the free edge of each abutment ange defining one wall of the entrance leading to the seat portion of its respective recess.

9. In a visible index, a base, side walls extending upwardly in spaced parallel relation from said base, a pair of mounting plates disposed in spaced parallel relation upon said base and adjacent the inner sides of said side walls, said mounting plates being formed with recesses in their upper edges, the inner ends of each recess having walls dening a seat portion, a resilient hanger wire mounted in the seat portions formed in said mounting plates, an abutment flange provided at the entrance to each recess to hold said hanger wire against upward displacement from its respective seat portion, said abutment flanges projecting outwardly at an'angle from the plane of its respective mounting plate, the free edge of each abutment ilange defining one wall of the entrance leading to thefseat portion of its respective recess, and a mounting plate for detachable engagement lwith said base.

MARCHAND B. HALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 875,090 Meltzer et al Dec. 31, 1907 951,599 Douglas Mar. 8, 1910 1,912,508 Andrews et al June 6, 1923 2,009,772 Hayn July 30, 1935 

